Chapter 15

MAURTEEN BRUIN Come, sit beside me, colleen, And put away your dreams of discontent, For I would have you light up my last days Like the good glow of the turf, and when I die I will make you the wealthiest hereabout: For hid away where nobody can find I have a stocking full of yellow guineas.

BRIDGET BRUIN You are the fool of every pretty face, And I must pinch and pare that my son's wife May have all kinds of ribbons for her head.

MAURTEEN BRUIN Do not be cross; she is a right good girl! The butter is by your elbow, Father Hart. My colleen, have not Fate and Time and Change Done well for me and for old Bridget there? We have a hundred acres of good land, And sit beside each other at the fire, The wise priest of our parish to our right, And you and our dear son to left of us. To sit beside the board and drink good wine And watch the turf smoke coiling from the fire And feel content and wisdom in your heart, This is the best of life; when we are young We long to tread a way none trod before, But find the excellent old way through love And through the care of children to the hour For bidding Fate and Time and Change good-bye.

(_A knock at the door._ MAIRE BRUIN _opens it and then takes a sod of turf out of the hearth in the tongs and goes out through the door._ SHAWN _follows her and meets her coming in._)

SHAWN BRUIN What is it draws you to the chill o' the wood? There is a light among the stems of the trees That makes one shiver.

MARIE BRUIN A little queer old man Made me a sign to show he wanted fire To light his pipe.

BRIDGET BRUIN You've given milk and fire, Upon the unluckiest night of the year, and brought, For all you know, evil upon the house. Before you married you were idle and fine, And went about with ribbons on your head; And now--no, father, I will speak my mind, She is not a fitting wife for any man--

SHAWN BRUIN Be quiet, mother!

MAURTEEN BRUIN You are much too cross!

MARIE BRUIN What do I care if I have given this house, Where I must hear all day a bitter tongue, Into the power of faëries!

BRIDGET BRUIN You know well How calling the good people by that name Or talking of them over much at all May bring all kinds of evil on the house.

MARIE BRUIN Come, faëries, take me out of this dull house! Let me have all the freedom I have lost; Work when I will and idle when I will! Faëries, come take me out of this dull world, For I would ride with you upon the wind, Run on the top of the dishevelled tide, And dance upon the mountains like a flame!

FATHER HART You cannot know the meaning of your words.

MARIE BRUIN Father, I am right weary of four tongues: A tongue that is too crafty and too wise, A tongue that is too godly and too grave, A tongue that is more bitter than the tide, And a kind tongue too full of drowsy love, Of drowsy love and my captivity.

(SHAWN BRUIN _comes over to her and leads her to the settle._)

SHAWN BRUIN Do not blame me: I often lie awake Thinking that all things trouble your bright head-- How beautiful it is--such broad pale brows Under a cloudy blossoming of hair! Sit down beside me here--these are too old, And have forgotten they were ever young.

MARIE BRUIN Oh, you are the great door-post of this house, And I, the red nasturtium, climbing up.

(_She takes_ SHAWN'S _hand, but looks shyly at the priest and lets it go._)

FATHER HART Good daughter, take his hand--by love alone God binds us to Himself and to the hearth And shuts us from the waste beyond His peace, From maddening freedom and bewildering light.

SHAWN BRUIN Would that the world were mine to give it you With every quiet hearth and barren waste, The maddening freedom of its woods and tides, And the bewildering light upon its hills.

MARIE BRUIN Then I would take and break it in my hands To see you smile watching it crumble away.

SHAWN BRUIN Then I would mould a world of fire and dew With no one bitter, grave, or over wise, And nothing marred or old to do you wrong, And crowd the enraptured quiet of the sky With candles burning to your lonely face.

MARIE BRUIN Your looks are all the candles that I need.

SHAWN BRUIN Once a fly dancing in a beam of the sun, Or the light wind blowing out of the dawn, Could fill your heart with dreams none other knew, But now the indissoluble sacrament Has mixed your heart that was most proud and cold With my warm heart forever; and sun and moon Must fade and heaven be rolled up like a scroll; But your white spirit still walk by my spirit.

(_A_ VOICE _sings in the distance._)

MARIE BRUIN Did you hear something call? Oh, guard me close, Because I have said wicked things to-night; And seen a pale-faced child with red-gold hair, And longed to dance upon the winds with her.

A VOICE (_close to the door_) The wind blows out of the gates of the day, The wind blows over the lonely of heart And the lonely of heart is withered away, While the faëries dance in a place apart, Shaking their milk-white feet in a ring, Tossing their milk-white arms in the air; For they hear the wind laugh, and murmur and sing Of a land where even the old are fair, And even the wise are merry of tongue; But I heard a reed of Coolaney say, "When the wind has laughed and murmured and sung, The lonely of heart is withered away!"

MAURTEEN BRUIN I am right happy, and would make all else Be happy too. I hear a child outside, And will go bring her in out of the cold.

(_He opens the door. A_ CHILD _dressed in pale green and with red-gold hair comes into the house._)

THE CHILD I tire of winds and waters and pale lights!

MAURTEEN BRUIN You are most welcome. It is cold out there; Who would think to face such cold on a May Eve?

THE CHILD And when I tire of this warm little house There is one here who must away, away, To where the woods, the stars, and the white streams Are holding a continual festival.

MAURTEEN BRUIN Oh, listen to her dreamy and strange talk. Come to the fire.

THE CHILD I will sit upon your knee, For I have run from where the winds are born, And long to rest my feet a little while.

(_She sits upon his knee._)

BRIDGET BRUIN How pretty you are!

MAURTEEN BRUIN Your hair is wet with dew!

BRIDGET BRUIN I will warm your chilly feet.

(_She takes the child's feet in her hands._)

MAURTEEN BRUIN You must have come A long, long way, for I have never seen Your pretty face, and must be tired and hungry; Here is some bread and wine.

THE CHILD The wine is bitter. Old mother, have you no sweet food for me?

BRIDGET BRUIN I have some honey!

(_She goes into the next room._)

MAURTEEN BRUIN You are a dear child; The mother was quite cross before you came.

(BRIDGET _returns with the honey, and goes to the dresser and fills a porringer with milk._)

BRIDGET BRUIN She is the child of gentle people; look At her white hands and at her pretty dress. I've brought you some new milk, but wait awhile, And I will put it by the fire to warm, For things well fitted for poor folk like us Would never please a high-born child like you.

THE CHILD Old mother, my old mother, the green dawn Brightens above while you blow up the fire; And evening finds you spreading the white cloth. The young may lie in bed and dream and hope, But you work on because your heart is old.

BRIDGET BRUIN The young are idle.

THE CHILD Old father, you are wise And all the years have gathered in your heart To whisper of the wonders that are gone. The young must sigh through many a dream and hope, But you are wise because your heart is old.

MAURTEEN BRUIN Oh, who would think to find so young a child Loving old age and wisdom?

(BRIDGET _gives her more bread and honey._)

THE CHILD No more, mother.

MAURTEEN BRUIN What a small bite! The milk is ready now; What a small sip!

THE CHILD Put on my shoes, old mother, For I would like to dance now I have eaten. The reeds are dancing by Coolaney lake, And I would like to dance until the reeds And the white waves have danced themselves to sleep.

BRIDGET (_Having put on her shoes, she gets off the old man's knees and is about to dance, but suddenly sees the crucifix and shrieks and covers her eyes._) What is that ugly thing on the black cross?

FATHER HART You cannot know how naughty your words are! That is our Blessed Lord!

THE CHILD Hide it away!

BRIDGET BRUIN I have begun to be afraid, again!

THE CHILD Hide it away!

MAURTEEN BRUIN That would be wickedness!

BRIDGET BRUIN That would be sacrilege!

THE CHILD The tortured thing! Hide it away!

MAURTEEN BRUIN Her parents are to blame.

FATHER HART That is the image of the Son of God.

(THE CHILD _puts her arm around his neck and kisses him._)

THE CHILD Hide it away! Hide it away!

MAURTEEN BRUIN No! no!

FATHER HART Because you are so young and little a child I will go take it down.

THE CHILD Hide it away, And cover it out of sight and out of mind.

(FATHER HART _takes it down and carries it towards the inner room._)

FATHER HART Since you have come into this barony I will instruct you in our blessed faith: Being a clever child you will soon learn.

(_To the others_)

We must be tender with all budding things. Our Maker let no thought of Calvary Trouble the morning stars in their first song.

(_Puts the crucifix in the inner room._)

THE CHILD Here is level ground for dancing. I will dance. The wind is blowing on the waving reeds, The wind is blowing on the heart of man.

(_She dances, swaying about like the reeds._)

MAIRE (_to_ SHAWN BRUIN) Just now when she came near I thought I heard Other small steps beating upon the floor, And a faint music blowing in the wind, Invisible pipes giving her feet the time.

SHAWN BRUIN I heard no step but hers.

MARIE BRUIN Look to the bolt! Because the unholy powers are abroad.

MAURTEEN BRUIN (_to_ THE CHILD) Come over here, and if you promise me Not to talk wickedly of holy things I will give you something.

THE CHILD Bring it me, old father!

(MAURTEEN BRUIN _goes into the next room._)

FATHER HART I will have queen cakes when you come to me!

(MAURTEEN BRUIN _returns and lays a piece of money on the table._ THE CHILD _makes a gesture of refusal._)

MAURTEEN BRUIN It will buy lots of toys; see how it glitters!

THE CHILD Come, tell me, do you love me?

MAURTEEN BRUIN I love you!

THE CHILD Ah! but you love this fireside!

FATHER HART I love you. When the Almighty puts so great a share Of His own ageless youth into a creature, To look is but to love.

THE CHILD But you love Him above.

BRIDGET BRUIN She is blaspheming.

THE CHILD (_to_ MAIRE) And do you love me?

MARIE BRUIN I--I do not know.

THE CHILD You love that great tall fellow over there: Yet I could make you ride upon the winds, Run on the top of the dishevelled tide, And dance upon the mountains like a flame!

MARIE BRUIN Queen of the Angels and kind Saints, defend us! Some dreadful fate has fallen: a while ago The wind cried out and took the primroses, And she ran by me laughing in the wind, And I gave milk and fire, and she came in And made you hide the blessed crucifix.

FATHER HART You fear because of her wild, pretty prattle; She knows no better.

(_To_ THE CHILD)

Child, how old are you?

THE CHILD When winter sleep is abroad my hair grows thin, My feet unsteady. When the leaves awaken My mother carries me in her golden arms. I will soon put on my womanhood and marry The spirits of wood and water, but who can tell When I was born for the first time? I think I am much older than the eagle cock That blinks and blinks on Ballygawley Hill, And he is the oldest thing under the moon.

FATHER HART She is of the faëry people.

THE CHILD I am Brig's daughter. I sent my messengers for milk and fire, And then I heard one call to me and came.

(_They all except_ SHAWN _and_ MAIRE BRUIN _gather behind the priest for protection._)

SHAWN (_rising_) Though you have made all these obedient, You have not charmed my sight, and won from me A wish or gift to make you powerful; I'll turn you from the house.

FATHER HART No, I will face her.

THE CHILD Because you took away the crucifix I am so mighty that there's none can pass Unless I will it, where my feet have danced Or where I've twirled my finger tops.

(SHAWN _tries to approach her and cannot._)

MAURTEEN Look, look! There something stops him--look how he moves his hands As though he rubbed them on a wall of glass.

FATHER HART I will confront this mighty spirit alone.

(_They cling to him and hold him back._)

THE CHILD (_while she strews primroses_) No one whose heart is heavy with human tears Can cross these little cressets of the wood.

FATHER HART Be not afraid, the Father is with us, And all the nine angelic hierarchies, The Holy Martyrs and the Innocents, The adoring Magi in their coats of mail, And He who died and rose on the third day, And Mary with her seven times wounded heart.

(THE CHILD _ceases strewing the primroses, and kneels upon the settle beside MAIRE and puts her arms about her neck._)

Cry, daughter, to the Angels and the Saints.

THE CHILD You shall go with me, newly married bride, And gaze upon a merrier multitude; White-armed Nuala, Aengus of the birds, Feacra of the hurtling foam, and him Who is the ruler of the Western Host, Finvarra, and their Land of Heart's Desire, Where beauty has no ebb, decay no flood, But joy is wisdom, Time an endless song. I kiss you and the world begins to fade.

FATHER HART Daughter, I call you unto home and love!

THE CHILD Stay, and come with me, newly married bride, For, if you hear him, you grow like the rest: Bear children, cook, be mindful of the churn, And wrangle over butter, fowl, and eggs, And sit at last there, old and bitter of tongue, Watching the white stars war upon your hopes.

SHAWN Awake out of that trance, and cover up Your eyes and ears.

FATHER HART She must both look and listen, For only the soul's choice can save her now. Daughter, I point you out the way to heaven.

THE CHILD But I can lead you, newly married bride, Where nobody gets old and crafty and wise, Where nobody gets old and godly and grave, Where nobody gets old and bitter of tongue, And where kind tongues bring no captivity; For we are only true to the far lights We follow singing, over valley and hill.

FATHER HART By the dear name of the one crucified, I bid you, Maire Bruin, come to me.

THE CHILD I keep you in the name of your own heart!

(_She leaves the settle, and stooping takes up a mass of primroses and kisses them._)

We have great power to-night, dear golden folk, For he took down and hid the crucifix. And my invisible brethren fill the house; I hear their footsteps going up and down. Oh, they shall soon rule all the hearts of men And own all lands; last night they merrily danced About his chapel belfry! (_To_ MAIRE) Come away, I hear my brethren bidding us away!

FATHER HART I will go fetch the crucifix again.

(_They hang about him in terror and prevent him from moving._)

BRIDGET BRUIN The enchanted flowers will kill us if you go.

MAURTEEN BRUIN They turn the flowers to little twisted flames.

SHAWN BRUIN The little twisted flames burn up the heart.

THE CHILD I hear them crying, "Newly married bride, Come to the woods and waters and pale lights."

MARIE BRUIN I will go with you.

FATHER HART She is lost, alas!

THE CHILD (_standing by the door_) But clinging mortal hope must fall from you: For we who ride the winds, run on the waves And dance upon the mountains, are more light Than dewdrops on the banners of the dawn.

MARIE BRUIN Oh, take me with you.

(SHAWN BRUIN _goes over to her._)

SHAWN BRUIN Beloved, do not leave me! Remember when I met you by the well And took your hand in mine and spoke of love.

MARIE BRUIN Dear face! Dear voice!

THE CHILD Come, newly married bride!

MARIE BRUIN I always loved her world--and yet--and yet--

(_Sinks into his arms._)

THE CHILD (_from the door_) White bird, white bird, come with me, little bird.

MARIE BRUIN She calls to me!

THE CHILD Come with me, little bird!

MARIE BRUIN I can hear songs and dancing!

SHAWN BRUIN Stay with me!

MARIE BRUIN I think that I would stay--and yet--and yet--

THE CHILD Come, little bird with crest of gold!

MARIE BRUIN (_very softly_) And yet--

THE CHILD Come, little bird with silver feet!

(MAIRE _dies, and the child goes._)

SHAWN BRUIN She is dead!

BRIDGET BRUIN Come from that image: body and soul are gone. You have thrown your arms about a drift of leaves Or bole of an ash tree changed into her image.

FATHER HART Thus do the spirits of evil snatch their prey Almost out of the very hand of God; And day by day their power is more and more, And men and women leave old paths, for pride Comes knocking with thin knuckles on the heart.

A VOICE (_singing outside_) The wind blows out of the gates of the day, The wind blows over the lonely of heart, And the lonely of heart is withered away While the faëries dance in a place apart, Shaking their milk-white feet in a ring, Tossing their milk-white arms in the air; For they hear the wind laugh and murmur and sing Of a land where even the old are fair, And even the wise are merry of tongue; But I heard a reed of Coolaney say, "When the wind has laughed and murmured and sung, The lonely of heart is withered away."

(_The song is taken up by many voices, who sing loudly, as if in triumph. Some of the voices seem to come from within the house._)

[CURTAIN]

THE RIDING TO LITHEND[1]

Gordon Bottomley

[Footnote 1: This play is reprinted by permission of and by arrangement with Constable and Company, Limited, London.]

CHARACTERS

GUNNAR HAMUNDSSON HALLGERD LONGCOAT, his wife RANNVEIG, his mother ODDNY, ASTRID, and STEINVOR, Hallgerd's housewomen ORMILD, a woman thrall BIARTEY, JOFRID, and GUDFINN, beggar-women GIZUR THE WHITE, MORD VALGARDSSON, THORGRIM THE EASTERLING, THORBRAND THORLEIKSSON and ASBRAND his brother, AUNUND, THORGEIB, and HROALD, riders MANY OTHER RIDERS AND VOICES OF RIDERS

TIME: _Iceland, A.D. 990_

SCENE: _The hall of GUNNAR'S house at Lithend in South Iceland. The portion shewn is set on the stage diagonally, so that to the right one end is seen, while from the rear corner of this, one side runs down almost to the left front._

_The side wall is low and wainscoted with carved panelling on which hang weapons, shields, and coats of mail. In one place a panel slid aside shews a shut bed._

_In front of the panelling are two long benches with a carved high-seat between them. Across the end of the hall are similar panellings and the seats, with corresponding tables, of the women's dais; behind these and in the gable wall is a high narrow door with a rounded top._

_A timber roof slopes down to the side wall and is upheld by cross-beams and two rows of tall pillars which make a rather narrow nave of the centre of the hall. One of these rows runs parallel to the side wall, the pair of pillars before the high-seat being carved and ended with images; of the other row only two pillars are visible at the extreme right._

_Within this nave is the space for the hearths; but the only hearth visible is the one near the women's dais. In the roof above it there is a louvre: the fire glows and no smoke rises. The hall is lit everywhere by the firelight._

_The rafters over the women's dais carry a floor at the level of the side walls, forming an open loft which is reached by a wide ladder fixed against the wall: a bed is seen in this loft. Low in the roof at intervals are shuttered casements, one being above the loft: all the shutters are closed. Near the fire a large shaggy hound is sleeping; and ORMILD, in the undyed woollen dress of a thrall, is combing wool._

ODDNY _stands spinning at the side; near her_ ASTRID _and_ STEINVOR _sit stitching a robe which hangs between them._

ASTRID Night is a winter long: and evening falls. Night, night and winter and the heavy snow Burden our eyes, intrude upon our dreams, And make of loneliness an earthly place.

ORMILD This bragging land of freedom that enthralls me Is still the fastness of a secret king Who treads the dark like snow, of old king Sleep. He works with night, he has stolen death's tool frost That makes the breaking wave forget to fall.

ASTRID Best mind thy comb-pot and forget our king Before the Longcoat helps at thy awaking.... I like not this forsaken quiet house. The housemen out at harvest in the Isles Never return. Perhaps they went but now, Yet I am sore with fearing and expecting Because they do not come. They will not come. I like not this forsaken quiet house, This late last harvest, and night creeping in.

ODDNY I like not dwelling in an outlaw's house. Snow shall be heavier upon some eyes Than you can tell of--ay, and unseen earth Shall keep that snow from filling those poor eyes. This void house is more void by brooding things That do not happen, than by absent men. Sometimes when I awaken in the night My throbbing ears are mocking me with rumours Of crackling beams, beams falling, and loud flames.

ASTRID (_pointing to the weapons by the high-seat_) The bill that Gunnar won in a far sea-fight Sings inwardly when battle impends; as a harp Replies to the wind, thus answers it to fierceness, So tense its nature is and the spell of its welding; Then trust ye well that while the bill is silent No danger thickens, for Gunnar dies not singly.

STEINVOR But women are let forth free when men go burning?

ODDNY Fire is a hurrying thing, and fire by night Can see its way better than men see theirs.

ASTRID The land will not be nobler or more holpen If Gunnar burns and we go forth unsinged. Why will he break the atonement that was set? That wise old Njal who has the second sight Foretold his death if he should slay twice over In the same kin, or break the atonement set: Yet has he done these things and will not care. Kolskegg, who kept his back in famous fights, Sailed long ago and far away from us Because that doom is on him for the slayings; Yet Gunnar bides although that doom is on him And he is outlawed by defiance of doom.